Cultivating Immortality: What kind of cheat can you use if you don't have money?

Chapter 14 The Girl and the Letter

Han Feiyu was lost in her memories and didn't notice Li Qingyi's strange behavior, continuing to talk to herself.

The young man was overjoyed to have met a celestial master and thus embarked on the path to immortality.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyi wondered to herself again, 'Is this really not talking about me?'

"He looked back at the dilapidated village behind him, his eyes filled with reluctance. Before leaving, he begged his master to allow him to return to the village to say goodbye, and his master granted his request."

"The village was very poor. The boy lost both his parents at a young age and was considered a jinx. Fortunately, he was able to survive thanks to the help of a young girl."

"He returned to the village only to say goodbye to the girl and promise her that when he returned from the immortal sect, he would marry her in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, with a ten-mile-long red bridal procession."

Looking at the cool moonlight outside the window, Li Qingyi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "A protagonist-template start, Brother Han."

"Eight years have passed since we parted." Han Feiyu's voice lowered, filled with bitterness:

"When he received his master's instructions to go down the mountain and return to the village as soon as possible, the bad news came."

"The girl from years ago had long been sold off cheaply by her greedy parents. After searching for her for many months without success, he had no choice but to come here and lie low."

Han Feiyu looked dejected as he and Li Qingyi gazed out the window at the lonely moon.

The rest is self-evident and need no further explanation.

"It truly is fate playing tricks on us." Li Qingyi sighed softly and asked, "Brother Han, do you have any regrets?"

"I...I don't know..."

Li Qingyi patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

Suddenly, he realized something.

"Han Feiyu...which sect's disciple is he? A request? What kind of request?"

"The Qin family is now a huge vortex, attracting all sorts of monsters and demons."

We must flee tonight.

Li Qingyi decided to run away immediately.

"Brother, can you come with me to get the knife?"

Faced with Han Feiyu's request, Li Qingyi did not immediately agree. After a moment of contemplation, she slowly spoke:

"Sure, but Brother Han, you must first tell me why you've come here?"

Han Feiyu pondered for a moment, considering that the two had gone through thick and thin together, and that this matter was not a top secret, so he told her frankly:

"Master once said that the Purple Mansion True Person of Qingchi Immortal Sect and Zhengyang Immortal Sect seems to be planning an opportunity here."

The master was vague about the specifics, only knowing that this opportunity seemed to be only attainable by cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, so he sent me to try my luck.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyi frowned slightly.

He was naturally aware of the Qingchi Immortal Sect and the Zhengyang Immortal Sect. The Xuan Kingdom had three sects and six schools, and these two sects were prominently among the top three.

"Then, which sect do you come from?" Li Qingyi asked.

"One of the six gates, the Thirty-One Gate."

As Han Feiyu spoke, he took out his identity jade token from his bosom and showed it to Li Qingyi.

Upon seeing this, Li Qingyi felt a sudden headache.

Since Han Feiyu was able to come, does that mean that cultivators from other sects have also secretly infiltrated the area?

Finally, he nodded. "Let's go."

The two stepped out of the inn, where a cold wind swept through.

The streets were sparsely populated, and the moonlight cast long shadows of the two people.

Li Qingyi was preoccupied with the opportunity that Han Feiyu had mentioned.

To leave or to stay?

Should I decisively withdraw and avoid this mess? Or should I stay and gamble on the opportunity that belongs to the Qi Refining stage?

After much deliberation, Li Qingyi decided to simulate the situation one more time. If it proved unsuccessful, she would withdraw.

Before they knew it, the two had walked to the blacksmith's shop.

Looking around, the area outside the shop was a mess, but the inside of the shop was intact.

Old Tie Tou sat alone on the threshold, his bare upper body still damp with sweat, panting heavily. The forge next to him had just been extinguished.

Li Qingyi: "It seems we've arrived just in time."

Han Feiyu did not reply to Li Qingyi, but simply walked forward.

When Lao Tietou saw someone coming, especially after recognizing Han Feiyu's face, he picked up the gray handkerchief draped around his neck and wiped the sweat from his face.

"Young master, are you here to retrieve your knife?"

Han Feiyu was stunned for a moment, "How did you know...?"

Old Iron Head said, "Miss told me what you look like before."

Upon hearing this, Han Feiyu swayed almost imperceptibly.

Old Tie Tou turned around and went back into the shop, taking out a knife—an old-fashioned, sheathed horizontal sword.

His rough hands gently stroked the scabbard, his eyes filled with reluctance as if he were looking at his child who was about to leave.

"The material used to forge this knife can be described as top-notch. It was the culmination of my hard work and dedication during its creation; it is the most prized piece of my life."

In the end, he handed the sword to Han Feiyu, and at the same time, he quickly went back into the house to retrieve a series of sealed letters and handed them over, saying, "These letters are also left for you by the young lady."

Li Qingyi watched as Han Feiyu took the knife and letter, and a strange sense of envy welled up in her heart.

"Why doesn't anyone prepare a divine weapon for me too?"

The scabbard of the horizontal sword was entirely black, with a heavy texture and smooth lines.

Han Feiyu slowly gripped the hilt of the knife and drew the horizontal blade out a few inches.

In an instant, a chilling, bright blade of light flowed out, reflecting the moonlight and piercing the eyes.

Just by looking at its design, Li Qingyi knew that this knife was no ordinary item.

"No wonder he gets the treatment of a main character..."

After saying goodbye to Old Iron Head, the two silently returned to the inn.

Inside the room, Han Feiyu sat by the window and opened the letter.

Li Qingyi didn't pay attention at first, and was preoccupied with her own plans.

However, he soon noticed that Han Feiyu's breathing became disordered, and the hand holding the letter trembled slightly.

The letter slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground.

This piqued Li Qingyi's curiosity.

He bent down, picked up the letter, and began to read it:

Brother Han, it's as if we're meeting in person after reading this letter.

It's been eight years since we last met, and Xiaotong misses you terribly.

That day, my mother sold me to a woman who was like a fairy. I thought I finally had hope of finding you, and I was overjoyed.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and despite all the twists and turns, Xiao Tong still couldn't meet Brother Han.

The fairy sister told me that as long as I obediently follow her instructions, she will definitely be able to let us meet again.

I believed it and agreed.

They have been very kind to me these days.

The fairy sister also said that Xiaotong's fate was connected to hers, and she needed Xiaotong to do her a favor.

After this is accomplished, my parents and siblings will be blessed with eternal wealth and good health.

Xiaotong agreed.

Xiao Tong remembered that Brother Han loved swords the most, so she asked Fairy Sister for this sword and gave it to Brother Han.

She agreed.

Unfortunately... Xiao Tong was unlucky and ultimately failed to see Brother Han one more time.

May Brother Han have a smooth and peaceful life.

After reading it, Li Qingyi frowned deeply. "Is this how you kill someone?"

Seeing that Han Feiyu was still in a daze, Li Qingyi could only sigh.

The night was deep.

After a long silence, Han Feiyu asked in a hoarse voice, "Brother Qin... is there anything else?"

Just a few hours ago, Li Qingyi thought of how the other person had been all smiles and joking around, and for a moment she didn't know how to comfort him.

Li Qingyi rubbed her temples and said directly, "Lend me some spirit stones."

"How many?"

Five.

Li Qingyi was unaware of the other party's treatment within the sect and dared not ask for more, lest she be refused.

Han Feiyu didn't speak, nor did he even look at Li Qingyi. He simply took out five spirit stones from his storage bag and casually pushed them onto the table.

Li Qingyi put away the spirit stones and stood up to leave. "If you need anything, you can come to the Qing lineage to find me."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door.

Just as he gripped the door latch and was about to push it open, Han Feiyu's deep voice came from behind him:

"Thank you for today's events..."

Li Qingyi paused slightly, but did not turn around. She said softly, "My friend has passed away. Brother Han, please accept my condolences."

As soon as Li Qingyi returned to the Qin family home after leaving the inn, she saw Qin Taihong pacing back and forth in the courtyard, looking anxious.

Qin Taihong visibly breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Li Qingyi return safely.

"I thought you'd been arrested by the master's enforcement team."

Li Qingyi suddenly recalled the comical scene in the simulator where Qin Taihong was taken away with her, and she inexplicably wanted to laugh. The corner of her mouth twitched, but the other party caught it.

"What are you so happy about?" Qin Taihong stared at him suspiciously.

"It's nothing." Li Qingyi quickly composed herself. "Uncle Qin, are you here so late at night just to check on your nephew's safety?"

"There's nothing I can do," Qin Taihong snorted irritably.

"Who told you to get involved with the Dao of Talismans? These are sensitive times, and I don't want the Qingzi lineage to be implicated by you."

Li Qingyi chuckled twice: "In that case, Uncle, thank you for your concern. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now."

He said no more to Qin Taihong and went straight to his courtyard.

However, as soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Ling'er and Qin Xiyue were sitting at a stone table in the courtyard, drinking from white jade cups.